Creative Educator--Articles on creativity, digital storytelling, 21st century classrooms, project-based learning, and more! http://www.thecreativeeducator.com/
February 17, 2017 Freeplay Music--A library to help you legally add music to your next video project! Free and paid subscriptions available. http://www.freeplaymusic.com/index.aspx
December 16, 2016 GlobalSpeedChat--A website that allows students to connect around the country and world...designed by a colleague in the Malone district! http://globalspeedchat.com/
EngineerGirl--A website trying to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women. http://www.engineergirl.org/
December 9, 2016 Between the Lions--Activities and games for kids to learn to read and write from PBS Kids. http://pbskids.org/lions/
New York Public Library: "On-Lion" for Kids--Book lists, eBooks, and educational games and websites for kids from one of our greatest libraries! http://kids.nypl.org/
November 18, 2016 Musical.ly article--There is a great article for parents and educators about the pros and cons of the music app, and the possible dangers for young students. http://cyberbullying.org/what-is-musically-app
Plum Landing--An awesome science exploration from PBS with games, animations, videos, an app, a digital curriculum, and science activities! http://pbskids.org/plumlanding/index.html
November 11, 2016 KidLitTV--Explore children's literature with fantastic read-aloud videos, book trailers, crafts, and podcasts! http://kidlit.tv/
Sparticl--Explore collections of videos, interactives, and articles related to different science topics. http://www.sparticl.org/
October 28, 2016 How-to video on editing photos in Google Drive--Mark Dalton's 2-minute tech tip is a must-see for Google users! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_0nvp2W70
September 23, 2016 Newsela--Multiple versions of current event articles at different reading levels; levels start at 2nd grade! https://newsela.com/
TED-Ed--Pre-made lessons using TED videos; you can filter videos by student level. http://ed.ted.com/
Welcome back!
We already have some brand-new resources to use for the 2016-2017 school year, as well as some neat changes about keeping up-to-date with the Davis Library. Here is a list of some categories:
New databases provided through the FEH-BOCES School Library System:
*Noodletools--Easily take notes and create citations for projects
*Brainpop--Very engaging content across many topics
*WorldandISchool and WorldandIKids--A new interactive online encyclopedia
*CCC! Streaming Media--Educational videos
To access click here. When prompted, the username you will need to use is davislib, and the password is search.
The Davis Library is now on Twitter! Follow us here: @dalib_mcsd
May 26, 2016 PE Central--Lesson and assessment ideas, professional development, videos, and much more...all about physical education! http://www.pecentral.org/
April 15, 2016
Check out these great online resources for Earth Day! Find lesson plans, games, activities, and information about things you and your class can do!
April 8, 2016
Help your kids become informed citizens! Here are two great online news resources for your students to keep up with current events: http://magazines.scholastic.com/
March 31, 2016 Design Squad--A PBS Kids website that allows students to find and learn about hands-on engineering, science, and technology activities. http://pbskids.org/designsquad/
March 4, 2016 The Kids Should See This--Smart, fun videos for the classroom or home viewing that are curated by a mom and her two children. http://thekidshouldseethis.com/
Women's History Month--A great collection of resources put together by some well-respected government agencies. http://womenshistorymonth.gov/
February 26, 2016 Geoguessr--An amazing Google Maps game that drops a player into Google Street View somewhere in the world. Players have to look around for clues and guess where in the world they are! More points are given the closer the guess. Very fun and builds critical thinking skills! https://www.geoguessr.com/
Countable--Keep track of what the current bills are in front of Congress, and learn how your representatives support them. A neat way to keep track of current politics both for teachers and students. https://www.countable.us/
Memarden--Create lessons that are interactive, multimedia, and that are automatically converted into games and activities. https://memarden.com/
February 5, 2016 Catch the Science Bug--An award-winning science website for kids featuring 'Science Files' and many fun activities! http://www.sciencebug.org/index.html
Bill Nye--Nye's official website is a fascinating resource with videos and printables. http://billnye.com/
Class Messenger App--A communication tool for teachers that makes it easy to stay in touch with parents. https://www.classmessenger.com/
January 22, 2016 Magic Tricks for Kids--A professional magician shares tips and behind-the-scenes tricks of the magic trade...a great way to get ready for our visiting magician Brian Richards! http://magictricksforkids.org/
A+ Click Math and Logic Problems--A K-12 math resource that's ad-free and does not require a student log-in. http://www.aplusclick.com/index.html
January 15, 2016
Here are four YouTube channels to use in your classroom--find more in Marc Dalton's latest Ed Tech Review! (https://www.smore.com/166nc)
January 8, 2016 edPuzzle--Add your own content - audio of your voice, quizzes, etc. - to existing videos to create engaging content for your students. https://edpuzzle.com/
December 22, 2015 NASA's Climate Kids--An amazing science resource that teaches kids about global changes in air, water, and climate. http://climatekids.nasa.gov/
December 18, 2015 Children's Book Council--Reading lists, the ability to search for books by age/genre/format, and book showcases. http://www.cbcbooks.org/reading-lists/
Jan Brett's Website--Book lists, activity and coloring pages, games, videos...a really neat author website! http://www.janbrett.com/index.html
December 11, 2015 Flubaroo--A free add-on from Google to grade and analyze assessments! *Also linked on Mark Dalton's first Ed Tech review* http://www.flubaroo.com/
Quizizz--Turns your quizzes into games! *Also on Mr. Dalton's Ed Tech review!* http://quizizz.com/
Optics for Kids--The science of optics is brought to life with great lesson plans and experiments for a range of ages. http://www.optics4kids.org/home/adults/
November 20, 2015 Coding Tutorials--Tutorials for students and lesson plans for teachers to get everybody involved in coding! https://code.org/learn
October 22, 2015 GenerationOn--An interactive website for kids and teens to learn about volunteering in their communities! http://www.generationon.org/
OSLIS MLA Citation Maker--An excellent (an ad-free) citation resource for elementary students; it will also upload citations straight to Google Docs!
October 16, 2015 Camp Google--A free, online science camp for kids led by experts; students can jump in any time! https://camp.withgoogle.com/
October 9, 2015 Spot App--An amazing app designed for iPad with artwork by David Wiesner. Users can explore wordless stories; winner of the 2015 Best App for Teaching and Learning! http://bitu.com/spot/
October 2, 2015 Building Big--A neat interactive website offered through PBS that lets kids explore big buildings and what it takes to make them. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/index.html
KidBibs--A very comprehensive site with tons of resources for students and teachers. http://kidbibs.com/home.htm
September 25, 2015 Brian Richards Official Website--We'll be welcoming a magician instead of an author this year!! Take a look at Brian's official website. http://www.brianrichardsmagic.com/
myBlee Math--A K-6 math enrichment app for iPad that allows students to practice and review concepts; teachers and parents can follow users' progress. http://www.myblee.info/us/
September 11, 2015 Haiku Deck--A new kind of presentation software to introduce to students; free and low monthly subscriptions are available. https://www.haikudeck.com/
June 19, 2015 San Diego Zoo Kids--A great website full of information and activities for kids; I especially like the section about 'Jobs at the Zoo.' http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/jobs-zoo
June 12, 2015 App Inventor--Learn how to build apps for Android; there are separate student and teacher sections. http://www.appinventor.org/
May 21, 2015 Go Noodle--Free brain breaks for your classroom! Highly recommended (plus it's fun for teachers too). https://www.gonoodle.com/
Quarked!--Introduction through games to particle physics; recommended for ages 7-12. http://www.quarked.org/
May 15, 2015 Summer Reading at New York Libraries--Bookmark this page to keep track of all the of books, activities, and other fun stuff available this summer! http://www.summerreadingnys.org/
May 8, 2015 'Real Revision' with Kate Messner--Kate did a video on YouTube explaining her revision strategy and book! (Her book is available through the Davis library as an eBook!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHWuIDm6QJU
May 1, 2015 StoryKit App--Electronic storybook that can write, illustrate, and record sounds for the iPhone and iPod Touch. https://edshelf.com/tool/storykit/
Kate Messner's Blog--It's almost time for our author visit!! Kate's blog is a wonderful insight into the world of an author. http://www.katemessner.com/blog/
April 17, 2015 DK Findout Database--A free database that's easy to search, includes pictures, videos, and quizzes, and is perfect for beginning researchers. http://www.dkfindout.com/us/
Wildscreen Arkive--An EXCELLENT resource for teachers and students to learn about endangered animals around the world. http://www.arkive.org/
March 19, 2015 Kidblog--A safe and easy way to introduce student blogging. There is a nice basic version (with Google Account log-in), and an inexpensive Premium version. http://kidblog.org/home/
January 23, 2015 Time For Kids--This online magazine also includes a Homework Helper, a photo/video section, and an Around the World information center. http://www.timeforkids.com/
December 12, 2014 Paper Toys--Free paper toys, holiday crafts, and much more from wonderful illustrator Marilyn Scott-Waters. Can print from the website! http://www.thetoymaker.com/2Toys.html
December 5, 2014 PBS LearningMedia--A collection of excellent, trusted resources for teachers and students...have fun exploring this wonderful website! http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
U.S. Geography from Discovery Education--Teacher's guides, videos, and more about a great topic! http://www.discoveryeducation.com/ --- just search for 'u.s. geography'
Scholastic Story Starters--Fun, interactive, and differentiated by grade; my 2nd grade test starter was "Write a quick fairytale about a shiny elephant
who wants to be invisible." The website allows you to type in your story, create a drawing if you want, and then print and/or download! http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/writing-prompts/
November 14, 2014 Kate Messner's blog--Our visiting author for this year is a prolific writer...check out her blog for updates and neat writing discussions! http://www.katemessner.com/blog/
Teaching Copyright Curriculum--Lesson plans and related activities designed to teach kids about copyright; a great refresher for educators too! http://www.teachingcopyright.org/
October 23, 2014 Bat Conservation International--Teach kids about the importance of bat conservation during the Halloween season! http://www.batcon.org/
World of Tales--Folktales and fairy tales from around the world; includes many of the various versions of well-known stories. http://www.worldoftales.com/
October 10, 2014 stopbullying.gov--October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month...learn what you can do as a parent, educator, community, and kid. http://www.stopbullying.gov/
October 3, 2014 BBC Primary History--Elementary students can learn basic information about a few periods in history; visually interesting and fun to explore! http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/
Mocomi--An interactive website with many fun activities for students; includes a neat online magazine called 'mocomag.' http://mocomi.com/
September 12, 2014 The Nonfiction Minute--A daily blog with quick and FASCINATING nonfiction stories; each story is written out and also includes a video and/or audio version. http://www.nonfictionminute.com/
September 5, 2014 WatchKnowLearn--Free educational videos organized by subject. http://watchknowlearn.org/
KidsKnowIt Network--Free resources: Common Core worksheets, educational posters, games, movies, and music. http://www.kidsknowit.com/
June 20, 2014 Summer Reading--Check out my summer reading website page! There is a Padlet of books recommended by the Book Club, a link to the Wead Library website, and I also made a LiveBinder full of summer reading resources. Have a wonderful vacation, and happy reading! http://mde-lmc.weebly.com/summer-reading.html
June 13, 2014 Earth Rangers--Provides children with the opportunity to protect animals, to improve the environment and to make a difference. http://www.earthrangers.org/
Library of Congress: America's Story--Uses various types of documents and resources to tell the story of America's history for elementary-aged children. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/index.html
May 30, 2014 Seriously Amazing from the Smithsonian--Questions and answers teach kids amazing facts about art, culture, history, and science. http://seriouslyamazing.si.edu/
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge: Reading Under the Stars--challenge your kids to beat the world record for reading! Log your minutes to unlock cool prizes... http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2014
May 22, 2014 NetSmartz Workshop--Information on different aspects of online safety for kids, parents, and teachers. http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents
Amazing Kids! Magazine--Created by and for kids; consider having some of your students submit an article! http://mag.amazing-kids.org/
May 16, 2014 Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL)--Free eBook service through the FEH BOCES School Library System; unlimited simultaneous use! Ask me for username and password to the database system. http://feh.auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/logout
May 9, 2014 5th Grade Social Studies Resource Page--An exhaustive list of topics with web resources, worksheets, and web quests http://www.kathimitchell.com/socstud.htm
March 28, 2014 Wead Library--Our local public library has many great resources and programs, and will be hosting the evening presentation by Matt McElligott! http://weadlib.wordpress.com/
New York Philharmonic Kidzone--A really cool interactive site with great information about music, instruments, and composers. http://www.nyphilkids.org/main.phtml
March 7, 2014 Poet-to-Poet Project--This educational project for National Poetry Month invites students to write poems in response to poems shared by award-winning poets. http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/639
February 26, 2014 FactCite--FactCite is an excellent online library and research tool, and we have a one-month trial subscription! It includes MANY biographies and has a great
mythology section, and many of the articles are searchable by lexile measure and include easy reader versions. Ask me for login information! http://www.factcite.com/
Poetry Month--April is poetry month, and while that sounds far away it's never too early to add poetry to your day! The link will bring you information on putting
poetry in unexpected places... http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5616
December 6, 2013 Fling the Teacher Game--Create a gameshow-style quiz game that lets you "fling" the teacher after answering questions correctly. http://www.contentgenerator.net/fling/
Recite--Input a quote and see it turned into a professional-looking poster; no account required. http://www.recitethis.com/#/
November 15, 2013 Federal Registry for Educational Excellence--Digital teaching and learning resources; browse Common Core Math and ELA. http://free.ed.gov/#s0,0,1
October 24, 2013 Sweet Search--Search engine that only uses websites evaluated by research experts; also has option for emerging learners. http://www.sweetsearch.com/
October 18, 2013 eduClipper--A purely educational clipping tool similar to Pinterest. Free student and teacher accounts are available. https://www.educlipper.net/
October 10, 2013 PBS LearningMedia--Free educational webinars, how-to guides, highlighted technology content, and an easy-to-use interface to browse for resources. http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
PBS Writing Contest--Information about the contest, past winning stories, and a really neat story creator. Visit the library for this year's flyer about the contest. http://pbskids.org/writerscontest/
October 4, 2013 Nourish Interactive--Promotes healthy living with sections for kids, parents, and teachers. http://www.nourishinteractive.com/
September 27, 2013 TurtleDiary--Math, ELA, and science exercises, interactive activities and books, experiments, arts and crafts, and videos for toddler-3rd grade. 4th and 5th grades coming soon. http://www.turtlediary.com/
September 20, 2013 Core Connect--Multiple common core resources gathered together with an easy-to-use search interface. Check your email from Mark Dalton for the username and password. http://coreconnect.4aplus.com/
June 6 BiblioNasium--Kids can sign up to share book recommendations; parents and teachers can find highly recommended books at different reading levels. https://www.biblionasium.com/#tab/all-books
May 31 Webonauts Internet Academy--A game offered by PBS Kids that teaches kids how to be safe and ethical internet users. http://pbskids.org/webonauts/
May 16
For this week's websites I would like to highlight a database owned by the library: World Book Online please note that this database requires a username and password; please ask me if you're unsure of what it is
World Book Student--Easy to search, has a very neat feature that allows side-by-side comparison of different places, has an excellent biography section, and includes a great citation builder.
Early World of Learning--Guided leveled reading, a lower-level interactive encyclopedia, and much more. I've used this with my K-2 students and they love it!
DinoDictionary--Profiles of over 300 dinosaurs; I hope the second graders find this useful for their research project! http://dinodictionary.com/
April 25 National Geographic "Brain Games"--A four-part YouTube video called "Delusions of Brain;" an interesting addition to a science discussion! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYwPPRDrHI
April 19 Cryptokids--Learn Morse code, use math and logic to solve brainteasers and games, online resources about the NSA as well as a link to the National Cryptologic Museum. http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml
Michelle Knudsen Official Website--Visit our visiting author's homepage to learn about her and her books! http://www.michelleknudsen.com/
March 27 Padlet--A free and VERY easy to use (and set up!) online wall that allows you to add content without needing individual user accounts. I'm using it for a 3rd grade project and the kids are loving it! (Check out the links on the 'Class Libraries' page on the library website). http://padlet.com/
March 22 AllSafeSites--A safe and easy to use directory and search engine for kids; good for beginning research without using Google! http://www.allsafesites.com/
Weebly--A free and VERY easy to use website and blog builder (the new school and library websites being developed are using this program!) http://www.weebly.com/
March 8 Chris Van Allsburg Official Website--A story writing contest, video clips, many interactive elements, and a biography make a fun and engaging website! http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/home.html
February 15 The Bentley Snow Crystal Collection--An amazing online library of snow crystals with information on how they were classified and photographed. http://bentley.sciencebuff.org/collection.asp
February 1 The Brown Bookshelf--In honor of Black History Month this website showcases the best of African American writers and illustrators for all grade levels. http://thebrownbookshelf.com/
January 25 The Graphic Classroom--Booklists, teaching resources, and updates about using comics in the classroom http://www.graphicclassroom.org/
Reading with Pictures--Presents research, resources, and recommended reading to help you start integrating comics into your curriculum. http://readingwithpictures.org/
January 18 Young American Poetry Digest--Information about Davis Library's upcoming poetry contest! www.youngpoets.org
December 14 Web-Holidays--Lists major and minor holidays with links to articles, recipes, and activities. http://web-holidays.com/
Christmas Around the World--A list of countries with information about how Christmas is celebrated in other cultures. http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/
December 5 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards--Find out information about award winners, watch videos, or have your students read and review the books on the shortlist! http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/
November30 Edutopia--Articles and videos discussing core strategies such as comprehensive assessment and technology integration. Great professional development resource. http://www.edutopia.org/
I was wondering...--Website dedicated to exploring careers and innovations of female scientists. Interactive games, questions, and information about a wide variety of scientific topics. http://www.iwaswondering.org/index.php
November 20 Awesome Library--37,000 carefully reviewed resources grouped by subject for teachers, students, and parents. http://www.awesomelibrary.org/
Captain Underpants Comic Maker--Fans of the series can easily make their own comics featuring the characters from the book; the finished comic can be printed! http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/comic.htm
Arcademic Skill Builders--Math and language arts games; the site gives you the ability to set up multiple users on the same game, and provides a score and missed questions for each player. The games are similar to mini-quizzes, but are actually fun! http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/
November 9 Kerpoof Studio--Spell pictures, make movies, cards, drawings, and books! Teacher resources include kerpoof activities cross-referenced with state and national standards. http://www.kerpoof.com/
Merriam-Webster: Word Central--Build your own dictionary, play games with words, great teacher resources, and three search options: dictionary, thesaurus, and rhyming. http://www.wordcentral.com/
How to Become President of the U.S. Poster--Lists the steps with links for more information; the poster can be printed for your classroom! http://kids.usa.gov/president/index.shtml
October 26 Reading rockets--"Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle." Resources for parents, teachers, and principals; includes themed booklists, 100+ author video interviews, professional development webcasts, reading guides, toolkits, and more. This website has so much to offer! http://www.readingrockets.org/
Little Critter's official website--Free coloring and activity pages, sing-a-longs, interactive games and 'read & plays,' and free story-time movies! http://www.littlecritter.com/index.html
October 17 Book-A-Day Almanac--Daily book recommendations and events! Each book recommendation includes an in-depth summary. Search the archive for past recommendations; books are grouped by age, subject, type of book, author, and date featured! http://childrensbookalmanac.com/
Storynory--Free audio stories published every week! Stories include website originals, classics, fairy tales, educational, and junior; the text of each story is included so students can follow along! http://storynory.com/
October 12 Create a Graph--Choose from 5 graph types, follow the instructions for each step, and print, download, and/or email your completed graph! http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
Lil' Fingers--A website designed for young children. Includes storybooks (some animated!), games (try the Pick & Match game for colors and shapes), activities, and videos (one for each letter of the alphabet!). http://www.lil-fingers.com/storybooks/index.php
October 5 FunBrain--Online books, comics, mad libs, and educational games. Check out the Teacher's Page for a curriculum guide that lists the site's resources by subject area and grade level. http://www.funbrain.com/
Wacky Web Tales--A list of story options that are similar to mad libs; fill out the story form by choosing parts of speech, and create a funny story! I think I might try 'A Detective for Halloween' later this month... http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
September 28 Storyline Online--A collection of videos showing members of the Screen Actors Guild reading picture books aloud. The site includes activity ideas for lessons. Look for the book list of similar titles and topics that is included with each video! http://storylineonline.net/
Fact Monster--An easy-to-use reference site for kids that includes an almanac, encyclopedia, atlas, homework center, dictionary, etc. Highly Recommended! http://www.factmonster.com/
September 21 FlockDraw--A free tool for online drawing and painting! One great feature is the ability to collaboratively draw in real-time with a group of up to 10 people. http://flockdraw.com/
Tagxedo--Creates free word clouds from text that you provide, and will even turn the clouds into specific shapes! I'll be using this tool with the 3rd-5th graders, so check back to the library website in a couple of weeks to see how they turn out! http://www.tagxedo.com/
September 13 ProTeacher Directory--Links to teaching ideas and resources easily organized by subject. http://www.proteacher.com/
TRAILS: Tools for Real-time Assessment--A free web-based assessment tool that targets third and sixth grade information literacy skills. http://www.trails-9.org/index.php?page=home
September6 Storybird--Create and share your own art-inspired stories. Free teacher accounts are available that allow you to manage students and create your own classroom libraries. http://storybird.com/
TeacherTube--See what other teachers and classes are doing in every subject area, or upload your own videos! http://www1.teachertube.com/
Resources of the Week - Davis
End of the Year Websites!
Here are some of my favorites:
The new Google Earth is now browser-based!--https://www.google.com/earth/
Smart videos for curious minds--http://thekidshouldseethis.com/
Explore the world--https://geoguessr.com/
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour--http://naturalhistory.si.edu/VT3/NMNH/z_NMNH-016.html
My summer reading webpage!--http://mde-lmc.weebly.com/summer-reading.html
Have a great summer!
April 28, 2017
Keep the interest in Earth Day going with these three great websites!
http://www.arkive.org/
http://www.earthrangers.org/teachers/classroom-activities/
http://ocean.si.edu/
April 10, 2017
Three iPad apps to think about:
Tellagami--create narrated animations
Green Screen by Do Ink--Create green screen photos and videos
Little Bird Tales--Create stories, podcasts, and more
March 27, 2017
Here are some neat starter ideas for Makerspaces!
The Arts and Crafts Makerspace
4 Budget-Friendly Projects
Makerspace Ideas - in Tweet form!
March 10, 2017
Knowledge:Kids--Games, videos and activities at a variety of levels from Canadian public television
http://www.knowledgekids.ca/
CBC Kids--A mix of news, entertainment, games, nature, science, and pop culture
http://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/
March 6, 2017
Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Book List--A comprehensive list of reviewed books with ideas for activities and related websites!
http://susannahill.blogspot.com/p/perfect-picture-books.html
App Lessons--A list of apps with corresponding lesson plans from App Ed Review.
http://appedreview.com/app-lessons/
Creative Educator--Articles on creativity, digital storytelling, 21st century classrooms, project-based learning, and more!
http://www.thecreativeeducator.com/
February 17, 2017
Freeplay Music--A library to help you legally add music to your next video project! Free and paid subscriptions available.
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/index.aspx
James Preller--Check out the Scholastic biography and book list for our upcoming visiting author!
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/james-preller/
January 30, 2017
Duolingo--Learn languages for free!
https://www.duolingo.com/
eGFI--Stands for "Engineering, Go For It;" an interactive website for anyone with an interest in engineering.
http://www.egfi-k12.org/about/
MyPlate--Learn about healthy choices and good nutrition with this government website.
https://www.choosemyplate.gov/
January 13, 2017
School Library Journal's "Best of 2016" lists great apps, books, and more. Here are three neat apps to check out:
Fiete Math--Math app
CHOMP --Picture app
Goldilocks and Little Bear --A fun and twisty story app
January 6, 2017
Some resources for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:
A collection of resources from Scholastic: https://beta.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/teaching-content/commemorate-life-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/
Info from the National Park Service Historic Site: https://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm
The King Center: http://www.thekingcenter.org/about-dr-king
Lesson Plan ideas from the National Education Association: http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/mlk-day-gradesK-5.html
Resources from Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/article/resources-martin-luther-king-jr-day-matt-davis
December 16, 2016
GlobalSpeedChat--A website that allows students to connect around the country and world...designed by a colleague in the Malone district!
http://globalspeedchat.com/
EngineerGirl--A website trying to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women.
http://www.engineergirl.org/
December 9, 2016
Between the Lions--Activities and games for kids to learn to read and write from PBS Kids.
http://pbskids.org/lions/
New York Public Library: "On-Lion" for Kids--Book lists, eBooks, and educational games and websites for kids from one of our greatest libraries!
http://kids.nypl.org/
December 2, 2016
Daisy the Dinosaur App--A free and very simple introduction to coding for kids.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/daisy-the-dinosaur#
Peter Pig's Money Counter App--Kids learn how to separate, count, and add coins.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/peter-pigs-money-counter#
November 18, 2016
Musical.ly article--There is a great article for parents and educators about the pros and cons of the music app, and the possible dangers for young students.
http://cyberbullying.org/what-is-musically-app
Plum Landing--An awesome science exploration from PBS with games, animations, videos, an app, a digital curriculum, and science activities!
http://pbskids.org/plumlanding/index.html
November 11, 2016
KidLitTV--Explore children's literature with fantastic read-aloud videos, book trailers, crafts, and podcasts!
http://kidlit.tv/
Sparticl--Explore collections of videos, interactives, and articles related to different science topics.
http://www.sparticl.org/
November 4, 2016
Bouncy Balls--A free website for visually monitoring classroom noise levels!
Website:https://bouncyballs.org/
Review of website with directions for use--http://appedreview.com/app/bouncy-balls/
Be Funky--Refinish photos, create collages, and design infographics.
Website:https://www.befunky.com/
Review of website with lesson ideas:http://appedreview.com/app/be-funky/
October 28, 2016
How-to video on editing photos in Google Drive--Mark Dalton's 2-minute tech tip is a must-see for Google users!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_0nvp2W70
Thanksgiving apps--Keep your students (and children) busy and entertained this holiday season
http://www.digitalmomblog.com/thanksgiving-apps-for-kids/
October 20, 2016
Resources for Election Day:
How to Become President--Poster explaining the process visually
Scholastic News-Elections--Articles for kids
Time for Kids--Articles
Ben's Guide for Kids-Elections--Interactive Website
5 Things to Tell Your Kids About the Election--Video from Common Sense Media
October 7, 2016
App-Stravaganza!
American Library Association - Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2016
Book Creator
Google Arts & Culture
Scratch Jr - Introduction to Coding!
September 23, 2016
Newsela--Multiple versions of current event articles at different reading levels; levels start at 2nd grade!
https://newsela.com/
TED-Ed--Pre-made lessons using TED videos; you can filter videos by student level.
http://ed.ted.com/
Welcome back!
We already have some brand-new resources to use for the 2016-2017 school year, as well as some neat changes about keeping up-to-date with the Davis Library. Here is a list of some categories:
New databases provided through the FEH-BOCES School Library System:
*Noodletools--Easily take notes and create citations for projects
*Brainpop--Very engaging content across many topics
*WorldandISchool and WorldandIKids--A new interactive online encyclopedia
*CCC! Streaming Media--Educational videos
To access click here. When prompted, the username you will need to use is davislib, and the password is search.
The Davis Library is now on Twitter! Follow us here: @dalib_mcsd
Apps
Wizard School--https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wizard-school-formerly-wonderbox/id949704805?mt=8
A is for Amphibians--https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-is-for-amphibians/id1000046482?mt=8
June 17, 2016
Check out some summer reading opportunities by exploring the links below:
Summer Reading resources from Davis Library: http://mde-lmc.weebly.com/summer-reading.html
Sign up for eBook access with your public library card at OverDrive: https://www.overdrive.com/
Read free eBooks from Project Gutenburg: https://www.gutenberg.org/
June 10, 2016
Explore the world with virtual field trips! Here are some of the best:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: http://naturalhistory.si.edu/VT3/
Colonial Williamsburg: http://www.history.org/history/museums/online_exhibits.cfm
Lascaux Caves: http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/fr/02_00.xml
Smithsonian Dinosaurs: http://paleobiology.si.edu/dinosaurs/interactives/tour/main.html
Smithsonian Zoo Webcams: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/WebCams/default.cfm?hpout=webcam_link&xtr=
Easter Island: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/
Reach the World: http://www.reachtheworld.org/
June 3, 2016
Here are some resources from Google to take a look at:
Google Keep--Keep notes and reminders for yourself in one easy-to-access place.
https://keep.google.com/
Google Science Journal--Use your Android phone's sensors as tools for conducting science experiments.
https://makingscience.withgoogle.com/science-journal/activities
Google Tour Builder--Build an interactive map using this Google app.
https://tourbuilder.withgoogle.com/
May 26, 2016
PE Central--Lesson and assessment ideas, professional development, videos, and much more...all about physical education!
http://www.pecentral.org/
Exercise, Fitness, & Nutrition--A great resource from kids.gov!
https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/exercise-fitness-nutrition/index.shtml
May 16, 2016
Here are some neat apps for the end of the school year!
Todo Math: Early elementary level
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/todo-k-2-math-practice/id666465255?mt=8
Vocabulary SpellingCity: Play games to learn spelling!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spellingcity/id538407602?mt=8
BrainPop Jr.: Use this 'Movie of the Week' app as a learning incentive or reward.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brainpop-jr.-movie-of-the-week/id536371867?mt=8
April 15, 2016
Check out these great online resources for Earth Day! Find lesson plans, games, activities, and information about things you and your class can do!
National Education Association's Earth Day Curriculum Resources:
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/Earth-Day-Curriculum-Resources-Grades-K-5.html
EekoWorld from PBS Kids:
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/
Scholastic Earth Day resources:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/celebrate-earth-day
EcoKids - Earth Day Canada:
https://ecokids.ca/
April 8, 2016
Help your kids become informed citizens! Here are two great online news resources for your students to keep up with current events:
http://magazines.scholastic.com/
http://www.dogonews.com/
March 31, 2016
Design Squad--A PBS Kids website that allows students to find and learn about hands-on engineering, science, and technology activities.
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/
Beverly Cleary Official Site--A neat author website to share with kids.
http://www.beverlycleary.com/
Space Racers--A website and show to introduce preschoolers to space; was consulted on by NASA.
http://spaceracers.org/en
March 18, 2016
Amazing World Atlas App--This is an elementary educational geography game that lets kids explore the globe.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amazing-world-atlas-by-lonely/id916745147?mt=8
Lego Movie Maker App--Easily create your own stop-motion films!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lego-movie-maker/id516001587?mt=8
March 4, 2016
The Kids Should See This--Smart, fun videos for the classroom or home viewing that are curated by a mom and her two children.
http://thekidshouldseethis.com/
Women's History Month--A great collection of resources put together by some well-respected government agencies.
http://womenshistorymonth.gov/
February 26, 2016
Geoguessr--An amazing Google Maps game that drops a player into Google Street View somewhere in the world. Players have to look around for clues and guess where in the world they are! More points are given the closer the guess. Very fun and builds critical thinking skills!
https://www.geoguessr.com/
Countable--Keep track of what the current bills are in front of Congress, and learn how your representatives support them. A neat way to keep track of current politics both for teachers and students.
https://www.countable.us/
February 12, 2016
Endless Spanish App--An app for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch; allows students to learn frequently used Spanish words.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-spanish/id964209088?mt=8
Memarden--Create lessons that are interactive, multimedia, and that are automatically converted into games and activities.
https://memarden.com/
February 5, 2016
Catch the Science Bug--An award-winning science website for kids featuring 'Science Files' and many fun activities!
http://www.sciencebug.org/index.html
Bill Nye--Nye's official website is a fascinating resource with videos and printables.
http://billnye.com/
January 29, 2016
PreK Book Lists--Organizes titles by a 'Letter of the Week' theme to make it easy to plan literacy lessons!
http://www.themeasuredmom.com/book-lists-2/
Class Messenger App--A communication tool for teachers that makes it easy to stay in touch with parents.
https://www.classmessenger.com/
January 22, 2016
Magic Tricks for Kids--A professional magician shares tips and behind-the-scenes tricks of the magic trade...a great way to get ready for our visiting magician Brian Richards! http://magictricksforkids.org/
A+ Click Math and Logic Problems--A K-12 math resource that's ad-free and does not require a student log-in.
http://www.aplusclick.com/index.html
January 15, 2016
Here are four YouTube channels to use in your classroom--find more in Marc Dalton's latest Ed Tech Review! (https://www.smore.com/166nc)
Mother Goose Club--A collection of songs and rhymes for the early grades https://www.youtube.com/user/MotherGooseClub
Gross Science--Bizarre stories from the creepy world of science https://www.youtube.com/user/grossscienceshow
American Museum of Natural History--Get a behind-the-scenes look at exhibits and collections https://www.youtube.com/user/AMNHorg
Edutopia--Series of great professional development videos https://www.youtube.com/user/edutopia
January 8, 2016
edPuzzle--Add your own content - audio of your voice, quizzes, etc. - to existing videos to create engaging content for your students.
https://edpuzzle.com/
Martin Luther King, Jr.--An age-appropriate biographical webpage with good photographs in honor of the upcoming remembrance day.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/martin-luther-king-jr/
December 22, 2015
NASA's Climate Kids--An amazing science resource that teaches kids about global changes in air, water, and climate.
http://climatekids.nasa.gov/
Garbology--Learn how to reuse, recycle, and compost!
http://www.naturebridge.org/garbology.php
December 18, 2015
Children's Book Council--Reading lists, the ability to search for books by age/genre/format, and book showcases.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/reading-lists/
Jan Brett's Website--Book lists, activity and coloring pages, games, videos...a really neat author website!
http://www.janbrett.com/index.html
December 11, 2015
Flubaroo--A free add-on from Google to grade and analyze assessments! *Also linked on Mark Dalton's first Ed Tech review*
http://www.flubaroo.com/
Quizizz--Turns your quizzes into games! *Also on Mr. Dalton's Ed Tech review!*
http://quizizz.com/
December 4, 2015
Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
The King Center
History.com - Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Parks Service - MLK Historic Site
BrainPop
November 24, 2015
Fun Food Games--Learn about healthy nutrition with Chef Solus!
http://www.nourishinteractive.com/kids
Optics for Kids--The science of optics is brought to life with great lesson plans and experiments for a range of ages.
http://www.optics4kids.org/home/adults/
November 20, 2015
Coding Tutorials--Tutorials for students and lesson plans for teachers to get everybody involved in coding!
https://code.org/learn
The Hour of Code--Mark Dalton has created a great flyer explaining the importance of coding, and sharing resources for getting started.
https://www.smore.com/2396t-mcsd-join-us-in-the-hour-of-code
November 13, 2015
Nasa's Space Place--Explore space with this fun and interactive site.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
Popboardz--A tile-based presentation app.
http://www.popboardz.com/
November 6, 2015
Resources for Veterans Day:
Veterans Day: Everything You Need by Scholastic
Veterans Day by ReadWriteThink
Veterans Day Activities by NEA
Veterans Day History and Teacher Guide by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
October 30, 2015
GettyGames--A selection of really fun art games from the Getty Museum.
http://www.getty.edu/gettygames/
Celebrate the Day of the Dead--A 'Maya & Miguel' video from PBS Kids.
http://pbskids.org/video/%3Fguid%3D7c663304-f722-4e2c-9b6f-0b06d8bafd72
October 22, 2015
GenerationOn--An interactive website for kids and teens to learn about volunteering in their communities!
http://www.generationon.org/
OSLIS MLA Citation Maker--An excellent (an ad-free) citation resource for elementary students; it will also upload citations straight to Google Docs!
October 16, 2015
Camp Google--A free, online science camp for kids led by experts; students can jump in any time!
https://camp.withgoogle.com/
Digital Learning Day--Digital tools and lesson plans to get ready for digital learning day on February 17th.
http://www.digitallearningday.org//site/Default.aspx?PageID=334
October 9, 2015
Spot App--An amazing app designed for iPad with artwork by David Wiesner. Users can explore wordless stories; winner of the 2015 Best App for Teaching and Learning!
http://bitu.com/spot/
My Incredible Body app--An anatomy app for kids that allows them to 'fly' through different body systems.
http://www.visiblebody.com/mib_overview/
October 2, 2015
Building Big--A neat interactive website offered through PBS that lets kids explore big buildings and what it takes to make them.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/index.html
KidBibs--A very comprehensive site with tons of resources for students and teachers.
http://kidbibs.com/home.htm
September 25, 2015
Brian Richards Official Website--We'll be welcoming a magician instead of an author this year!! Take a look at Brian's official website.
http://www.brianrichardsmagic.com/
September 18, 2015
iBiome-Wetlands--A highly recommended interactive app for upper elementary students; allows users to create their own wetland biomes.
http://www.bestappsforkids.com/2014/ibiome-wetlands/
myBlee Math--A K-6 math enrichment app for iPad that allows students to practice and review concepts; teachers and parents can follow users' progress.
http://www.myblee.info/us/
September 11, 2015
Haiku Deck--A new kind of presentation software to introduce to students; free and low monthly subscriptions are available.
https://www.haikudeck.com/
Making Learning Fun--An early childhood education website filled with free printables, activities, and themes.
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/index.html
June 25, 2015
Visit these websites for some summer reading motivation!
Book Adventure--http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx
Scholastice Summer Reading--http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2015
Reading Rockets--http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/summer
June 19, 2015
San Diego Zoo Kids--A great website full of information and activities for kids; I especially like the section about 'Jobs at the Zoo.'
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/jobs-zoo
June 12, 2015
App Inventor--Learn how to build apps for Android; there are separate student and teacher sections.
http://www.appinventor.org/
June 5, 2015
All About Birds--Learn how to bird watch!
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1189
May 29, 2015
PBS Kids Measurement Games--Uses dinosaurs to practice different ways of measurement.
http://pbskids.org/games/measurement/
PBS Kids Measurement Videos--These PBS Kids videos are a little more advanced than the dinosaur games, and also have their own games and activities.
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/find-it/measurement/videos/
May 21, 2015
Go Noodle--Free brain breaks for your classroom! Highly recommended (plus it's fun for teachers too).
https://www.gonoodle.com/
Quarked!--Introduction through games to particle physics; recommended for ages 7-12.
http://www.quarked.org/
May 15, 2015
Summer Reading at New York Libraries--Bookmark this page to keep track of all the of books, activities, and other fun stuff available this summer!
http://www.summerreadingnys.org/
SummerReads from ReadWorks--Texts designed to prevent the summer slump!
http://www.readworks.org/rw/summerreads-rising-3rd-4th-5th-graders?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=5.13.15%20SummerReads
May 8, 2015
'Real Revision' with Kate Messner--Kate did a video on YouTube explaining her revision strategy and book! (Her book is available through the Davis library as an eBook!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHWuIDm6QJU
PBS LearningMedia presents 'Do the Penguin Shuffle'--Musical animation exploring beats and rhythms; challenges kids to make up their own beats and move like an animal!
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ket-earlychild-art1/do-the-penguin-shuffle/
May 1, 2015
StoryKit App--Electronic storybook that can write, illustrate, and record sounds for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
https://edshelf.com/tool/storykit/
Toontastic App--Make cartoons and narrate a story with easy uploading and viewing; for iPad.
https://edshelf.com/tool/toontastic/
April 24, 2015
EcoKids--Games and activities on different Earth Day topics.
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/games_activities/index.cfm
Kate Messner's Blog--It's almost time for our author visit!! Kate's blog is a wonderful insight into the world of an author.
http://www.katemessner.com/blog/
April 17, 2015
DK Findout Database--A free database that's easy to search, includes pictures, videos, and quizzes, and is perfect for beginning researchers.
http://www.dkfindout.com/us/
Global Trek--A virtual travel website offered through Scholastic; offers the chance to journal about each destination.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/
April 10, 2015
The Science of Baseball--An interactive website all about baseball.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/index.html
Wildscreen Arkive--An EXCELLENT resource for teachers and students to learn about endangered animals around the world.
http://www.arkive.org/
March 19, 2015
Kidblog--A safe and easy way to introduce student blogging. There is a nice basic version (with Google Account log-in), and an inexpensive Premium version.
http://kidblog.org/home/
World Book's World of Animals App--This app for iPad is a little pricey, but once you download it you have access to great information on 200 animals.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/world-books-world-of-animals
March 13, 2015
Distinguished Women of the Past and Present--Biographies and links for Women's History Month
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/index.php
Elementary Math Practice and Videos--For grades 1-5
http://www.ck12.org/student/
March 6, 2015
PreK resources from PBS Learning Media
Making Predictions--
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tf14.pre.soc.whathappensnext/what-happens-next-lesson-plan/
Recognizing Shapes and Patterns--
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/a35a731e-585a-4a6f-8685-1e363708c40f/triangle-pentagon-triangle-square-peg-cat/
Practice Makes Perfect--
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/8426ef07-6b25-4aa1-a4b6-564ee78e1222/three-whole-hops-daniel-tigers-neighborhood/
February 27, 2015
Two app reviews from Common Sense Media:
YouTube Kids
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/youtube-kids#
Blaze and the Monster Machine
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/blaze-and-the-monster-machines
February 13, 2015
Three interactive resources for teaching and learning about the Underground Railroad from National Geographic:
Introduction to the Underground Railroad
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/activity/introduction-underground-railroad/?ar_a=1
The Underground Railroad Route
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/activity/underground-railroad-route/?ar_a=1
How Slaves Found Their Way North
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/activity/how-slaves-found-way-north/?ar_a=1
February 6, 2015
National Geographic Kids-Videos--Animals, Places, People, Science, Weather, and more! Great video resource.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/videos/
NASA Kids' Club--Space games, printables, and more! Games and activities are leveled 1-5.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html#.VNjBPijLKnk
January 23, 2015
Time For Kids--This online magazine also includes a Homework Helper, a photo/video section, and an Around the World information center.
http://www.timeforkids.com/
BrainPop Jr.: Abraham Lincoln--Get ready for February and President's Day by showing your students this short video about Abe Lincoln!
https://jr.brainpop.com/socialstudies/biographies/abrahamlincoln/
January 16, 2015
Weebly--A free and (really) easy-to-use website maker; it can also be used to create webquests!
http://www.weebly.com/
Nature Magnetic Poetry--No pressure poetry that allows students to drag-and-drop words into a poem, and it can be done on a Smart Board.
http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Nature/kit/
January 9, 2015
Chateau Meddybemps--A unique collection of learning activities and original stories.
http://www.meddybemps.com/index.html
The Story Home--Classic and original audio stories; can stream for free or download for a small charge.
http://thestoryhome.com/
December 19, 2014
My Storybook--Write, illustrate, and publish a story.
https://www.mystorybook.com/
Wikia Maps--Create and share your own map...even of a fictional place!
http://maps.wikia.com/wiki/Maps_Wiki
December 12, 2014
Paper Toys--Free paper toys, holiday crafts, and much more from wonderful illustrator Marilyn Scott-Waters. Can print from the website!
http://www.thetoymaker.com/2Toys.html
Math is Fun--Activities, problems, and games for K-6 students on a variety of math topics.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/index.htm
December 5, 2014
PBS LearningMedia--A collection of excellent, trusted resources for teachers and students...have fun exploring this wonderful website!
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
U.S. Geography from Discovery Education--Teacher's guides, videos, and more about a great topic!
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/ --- just search for 'u.s. geography'
November 25, 2014
Kate Messner's TED-Ed Original video--Our visiting author has a great, and short, video about "How to Build a Fictional World."
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-build-a-fictional-world-kate-messner
Scholastic Story Starters--Fun, interactive, and differentiated by grade; my 2nd grade test starter was "Write a quick fairytale about a shiny elephant
who wants to be invisible." The website allows you to type in your story, create a drawing if you want, and then print and/or download!
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/writing-prompts/
November 21, 2014
Zimmer Twins--Create and share animated stories.
http://www.zimmertwins.com/
GigaPan--Zoom in on panoramic pictures to find the fascinating details; start with the gallery of animal habitats!
http://www.gigapan.com/galleries/6969/gigapans
November 14, 2014
Kate Messner's blog--Our visiting author for this year is a prolific writer...check out her blog for updates and neat writing discussions!
http://www.katemessner.com/blog/
BoomWriter--Story starters and collaborative story creation.
http://www.boomwriter.com/
November 7, 2014
Kids Quest App--Educational gaming with questions created by grade-level specialists.
http://www.amazon.com/Developer-Kids-Quest/dp/B007SY3DBE
Daisy the Dinosaur App--Introduces children to basic computer programming in a fun and engaging way.
http://www.mindleaptech.com/apps/daisy-the-dinosaur/
October 31, 2014
Salem Witch Museum--A great website about a fascinating time in history.
http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/
Teaching Copyright Curriculum--Lesson plans and related activities designed to teach kids about copyright; a great refresher for educators too!
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/
October 23, 2014
Bat Conservation International--Teach kids about the importance of bat conservation during the Halloween season!
http://www.batcon.org/
October 17, 2014
RWT Timeline Maker--Read Write Think provides an interactive timeline maker that is easy and fun to use, and the finished product looks professional!
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/
World of Tales--Folktales and fairy tales from around the world; includes many of the various versions of well-known stories.
http://www.worldoftales.com/
October 10, 2014
stopbullying.gov--October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month...learn what you can do as a parent, educator, community, and kid.
http://www.stopbullying.gov/
ConnectSafely--Tips to help stop cyberbullying.
http://www.connectsafely.org/tips-to-help-stop-cyberbullying/
October 3, 2014
BBC Primary History--Elementary students can learn basic information about a few periods in history; visually interesting and fun to explore!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/
Mocomi--An interactive website with many fun activities for students; includes a neat online magazine called 'mocomag.'
http://mocomi.com/
September 26, 2014
Toontastic--This app lets kids create animated cartoon stories on their iPads.
http://www.launchpadtoys.com/toontastic/
Exploratorium: After School Activites--Kid-friendly projects with step-by-step instructions; the website also includes concept maps, cultural connections, and a short video for each stage in the creation process.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/afterschool/activities/index.php?activity=135&program=587
September 19, 2014
Math Cats--Solve problems, do math crafts, and explore the 'Idea Bank' for fun activities and resources.
http://www.mathcats.com/index.html#contents
KidsHealth--Information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
http://kidshealth.org/kid/index.jsp?tracking=K_Home
September 12, 2014
The Nonfiction Minute--A daily blog with quick and FASCINATING nonfiction stories; each story is written out and also includes a video and/or audio version.
http://www.nonfictionminute.com/
Lawrence Hall of Science 24/7--Activity collections and lessons for teachers and parents with experiments, easy graphing, and much more!
http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/#1
September 5, 2014
WatchKnowLearn--Free educational videos organized by subject.
http://watchknowlearn.org/
KidsKnowIt Network--Free resources: Common Core worksheets, educational posters, games, movies, and music.
http://www.kidsknowit.com/
June 20, 2014
Summer Reading--Check out my summer reading website page! There is a Padlet of books recommended by the Book Club, a link to the Wead Library website, and I also made a LiveBinder full of summer reading resources. Have a wonderful vacation, and happy reading!
http://mde-lmc.weebly.com/summer-reading.html
June 13, 2014
Earth Rangers--Provides children with the opportunity to protect animals, to improve the environment and to make a difference.
http://www.earthrangers.org/
Library of Congress: America's Story--Uses various types of documents and resources to tell the story of America's history for elementary-aged children.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/index.html
June 6, 2014
CMLibrary Book Hive--An easy way to find quality children's literature for the summer!
http://www.cmlibrary.org/bookhive/books/
Braille Bug--Learn about and practice braille!
http://braillebug.afb.org/
May 30, 2014
Seriously Amazing from the Smithsonian--Questions and answers teach kids amazing facts about art, culture, history, and science.
http://seriouslyamazing.si.edu/
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge: Reading Under the Stars--challenge your kids to beat the world record for reading! Log your minutes to unlock cool prizes...
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2014
May 22, 2014
NetSmartz Workshop--Information on different aspects of online safety for kids, parents, and teachers.
http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents
Amazing Kids! Magazine--Created by and for kids; consider having some of your students submit an article!
http://mag.amazing-kids.org/
May 16, 2014
Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL)--Free eBook service through the FEH BOCES School Library System; unlimited simultaneous use! Ask me for username and password to the database system.
http://feh.auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/logout
TinyTap--An app for iPhone and iPad that allows you to create and play educational games!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tinytap-make-games-learn-turn/id493868874?mt=8
May 9, 2014
5th Grade Social Studies Resource Page--An exhaustive list of topics with web resources, worksheets, and web quests
http://www.kathimitchell.com/socstud.htm
Quest Garden--Search for web quests by topic or grade level
http://questgarden.com/
May 2, 2014
Jack Prelutsky's Official Website--Wonderful writing activities, poems, music, and much more
http://jackprelutsky.com/
Symbaloo--Keep all of your bookmarks, commonly used websites, and files on a personal internet desktop
https://www.symbaloo.com/
April 25, 2014
Gonoodle--Free brain breaks to channel classroom energy.
https://www.gonoodle.com/
TEACH: a Documentary--A film by Davis Guggenheim that focuses on teachers
http://www.takepart.com/teach
April 10, 2014
Giggle Poetry--Write poems, rate poems, perform poetry theater and more for Poetry Month!
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/index.aspx
Project Noah--Help document the natural world and enjoy the spring weather!
http://www.projectnoah.org/
April 4, 2014
DayByDayNy--An excellent family literacy calendar; books, poems, and activities for reading at home.
http://daybydayny.org/
AASL's Best Apps for Teaching and Learning--The American Association of School Librarians' list of winners for 2013.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-apps/2013
March 28, 2014
Wead Library--Our local public library has many great resources and programs, and will be hosting the evening presentation by Matt McElligott!
http://weadlib.wordpress.com/
New York Philharmonic Kidzone--A really cool interactive site with great information about music, instruments, and composers.
http://www.nyphilkids.org/main.phtml
March 14, 2014
KnightCite--Another option for creating citations.
https://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/
The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids--Easy to use with many great activities and resources.
http://www.almanac4kids.com/index.php
March 7, 2014
Poet-to-Poet Project--This educational project for National Poetry Month invites students to write poems in response to poems shared by award-winning poets.
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/639
Matt McElligott--Our visiting author has some great projects and lesson plans on his website!
http://matthewmcelligott.com/projects/index.php
February 26, 2014
FactCite--FactCite is an excellent online library and research tool, and we have a one-month trial subscription! It includes MANY biographies and has a great
mythology section, and many of the articles are searchable by lexile measure and include easy reader versions. Ask me for login information!
http://www.factcite.com/
Poetry Month--April is poetry month, and while that sounds far away it's never too early to add poetry to your day! The link will bring you information on putting
poetry in unexpected places...
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5616
February 14, 2014
Earth and Space Science Passages--Read Works has created a list of K-5 passage and question sets about earth and space!
http://www.readworks.org/earth-space-science-passages?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=022014%20Earth%20Space%20EST
News 360--A website and app that aggregates your news and delivers it to one place.
http://news360.com/
February 7, 2014
Science and Engineering of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games--A series of videos from NBC that shows the science behind some winter sports.
http://www.nbclearn.com/science-and-engineering-of-the-2014-olympic-winter-games
Artsonia Kids Art Museum--Create online art galleries for your students!
http://www.artsonia.com/
January 31, 2014
easel.ly--Create and share visual ideas online.
http://www.easel.ly/
Great Tech Expectations--A helpful chart that describes what technology skills elementary students should be able to do and when.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/elementary-technology-skills-mary-beth-hertz
January 24, 2014
Mystery Math Museum--A math-practice app for the iPad.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/mystery-math-museum
Oh Say Can You Seed--An educational storybook for the iPad that uses a Dr. Seuss-style story to teach kids about plants.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/oh-say-can-you-seed
January 17, 2014
LibriVox--Free public domain audiobooks; download to a computer or mobile device, or burn onto a CD!
https://librivox.org/
NeoK12--An award-winning list of educational game and video resources for all grade levels organized by topic.
http://www.neok12.com/
January 10, 2014
Storyboard That--An easy storyboard creator.
http://www.storyboardthat.com/
50states.com--Tons of information that's nicely organized.
http://www.50states.com/
December 20, 2013
NEA: Winter-themed classroom resources--The National Education Association has provided K-5 lessons and activities for winter.
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/winter-theme-gradesK-5.html
Cryosphere Tour--A (really amazing) virtual tour of Earth's snow and ice, and how it has changed over time (also available as a YouTube video).
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003600/a003619/
December 13, 2013
Screencast-O-Matic--One-click screen capture recording for free with no installation.
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/
Kobo Books--Major ebook retailer whose books can be read on a wide range of platforms; the link gives a review for the Kobo iPad app.
http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/kobo-ipad.html
December 6, 2013
Fling the Teacher Game--Create a gameshow-style quiz game that lets you "fling" the teacher after answering questions correctly.
http://www.contentgenerator.net/fling/
ClassDojo--Free behavior management tool; also available as an IPad app.
http://www.classdojo.com/
November 26, 2013
Thanksgiving Primary Resources--PBS LearningMedia offers some interesting pictures and documents from the Library of Congress.
http://vitalny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/d003df73-61bd-4c30-b9bb-0e63e558bf19/d003df73-61bd-4c30-b9bb-0e63e558bf19/?utm_source=N&N_B&utm_medium=Thumbnail&utm_campaign=Homepage
November 22, 2013
Bio Cube--An interactive from ReadWriteThink that helps students organize and summarize ideas.
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/cube-30057.html
Recite--Input a quote and see it turned into a professional-looking poster; no account required.
http://www.recitethis.com/#/
November 15, 2013
Federal Registry for Educational Excellence--Digital teaching and learning resources; browse Common Core Math and ELA.
http://free.ed.gov/#s0,0,1
Little Bird Tales--Guides students in creating digital stories, and it's ad-free!
https://littlebirdtales.com/about/default/
November 8, 2013
Matt McElligott's Official Website--He won't be here until May, but take a minute to learn about our visiting author!
http://matthewmcelligott.com/wordpress/category/frontpage
AppGuides--Simplifies the search for good apps.
http://appadvice.com/appguides/
November 1, 2013
Project Gutenberg--A great place to find free ebooks; the link is to the 'Children's Bookshelf' section of the website.
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Category:Children%27s_Bookshelf
New York Public Library (NYPL) Digital Collections-- Free and open access to over 800,000 images.
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm
October 24, 2013
Sweet Search--Search engine that only uses websites evaluated by research experts; also has option for emerging learners.
http://www.sweetsearch.com/
TrackStar--Create interactive online lessons for your students called 'Tracks,' or use one of the thousands already created.
http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/index.jsp
October 18, 2013
eduClipper--A purely educational clipping tool similar to Pinterest. Free student and teacher accounts are available.
https://www.educlipper.net/
App Reviews--An easy way to search for the best educational apps for kids.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews
October 10, 2013
PBS LearningMedia--Free educational webinars, how-to guides, highlighted technology content, and an easy-to-use interface to browse for resources.
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
PBS Writing Contest--Information about the contest, past winning stories, and a really neat story creator. Visit the library for this year's flyer about the contest.
http://pbskids.org/writerscontest/
October 4, 2013
Nourish Interactive--Promotes healthy living with sections for kids, parents, and teachers.
http://www.nourishinteractive.com/
Exercise and Nutrition Apps--A list of apps to get kids excited about making healthy choices.
https://www.appolearning.com/categories/147-exercise-nutrition
September 27, 2013
TurtleDiary--Math, ELA, and science exercises, interactive activities and books, experiments, arts and crafts, and videos for toddler-3rd grade. 4th and 5th grades coming soon.
http://www.turtlediary.com/
Inkless Tales--Online stories, poems, and more.
http://www.inklesstales.com/
September 20, 2013
Core Connect--Multiple common core resources gathered together with an easy-to-use search interface. Check your email from Mark Dalton for the username and password.
http://coreconnect.4aplus.com/
StoryCove--Stories (narrated videos) from around the world; registering is free and allows you to access lesson plans and activities.
http://classroom.storycove.com/classroom/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Video
September 13, 2013
101 Ways to Use Tagxedo--Tagxedo is a popular word-cloud generator with many different applications.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IvQMR9LpT9sSOEOTIpsCLxYpfuPrKZrL3_JZ651HTho/edit?pli=1#slide=id.i547
Kathy Schrock's Assessment and Rubrics--A comprehensive list of rubrics and rubric-makers for assessments.
http://www.schrockguide.net/assessment-and-rubrics.html
June 6
BiblioNasium--Kids can sign up to share book recommendations; parents and teachers can find highly recommended books at different reading levels.
https://www.biblionasium.com/#tab/all-books
Scholastic Summer Challenge--Log how many minutes your students spend reading and try to break a world record!
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2013
May 31
Webonauts Internet Academy--A game offered by PBS Kids that teaches kids how to be safe and ethical internet users.
http://pbskids.org/webonauts/
BrainPOP Jr. Internet Safety--A video, quizzes, games, activities, lesson ideas, and more all on one page!
http://www.brainpopjr.com/artsandtechnology/technology/internetsafety/
May 23
K-12 Resources for Internet Safety--Websites and lesson plans to teach kids how to be safe online.
http://www.kgcs.k12.va.us/kges/isafe_resources_k_12.htm
SafeKids Quiz--How safe are you online? Test yourself and your students!
http://www.safekids.com/quiz/index.html
May 16
For this week's websites I would like to highlight a database owned by the library: World Book Online please note that this database requires a username and password; please ask me if you're unsure of what it is
World Book Student--Easy to search, has a very neat feature that allows side-by-side comparison of different places, has an excellent biography section, and includes a great citation builder.
Early World of Learning--Guided leveled reading, a lower-level interactive encyclopedia, and much more. I've used this with my K-2 students and they love it!
May 10
Next week (May 13-19) is Children's Book Week! There are many fun activities to do with your students during the week; check out the links for some ideas!
http://bookweekonline.com/
http://www.bookweekonline.com/story-starters
http://bookweekonline.com/for-kids
May 2
ReadWorks: Spring/Summer Passages--K-6 Reading passages and question sets on a variety of seasonal topics.
http://www.readworks.org/spring-and-summer-passages-and-question-sets-based-common-core-lexile-bands
DinoDictionary--Profiles of over 300 dinosaurs; I hope the second graders find this useful for their research project!
http://dinodictionary.com/
April 25
National Geographic "Brain Games"--A four-part YouTube video called "Delusions of Brain;" an interesting addition to a science discussion!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYwPPRDrHI
Neuroscience for Kids - Brain Games--Online experiments, games, and lesson ideas for brain training and facts.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chgames.html
April 19
Cryptokids--Learn Morse code, use math and logic to solve brainteasers and games, online resources about the NSA as well as a link to the National Cryptologic Museum.
http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml
Michelle Knudsen Official Website--Visit our visiting author's homepage to learn about her and her books!
http://www.michelleknudsen.com/
April 12
Sesame Street--Educational games and videos for young students.
http://www.sesamestreet.org/games#media/game_d1c1f2a5-12ee-4812-b39c-3aefff4d0aac
March 27
Padlet--A free and VERY easy to use (and set up!) online wall that allows you to add content without needing individual user accounts. I'm using it for a 3rd grade project and the kids are loving it! (Check out the links on the 'Class Libraries' page on the library website).
http://padlet.com/
March 22
AllSafeSites--A safe and easy to use directory and search engine for kids; good for beginning research without using Google!
http://www.allsafesites.com/
ARTSEDGE--Lessons, a media library, and multimedia resources for the arts.
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators.aspx
March 15
ReadWorks Science Passages--K-6 reading passages and question sets on various science topics.
http://www.readworks.org/spotlight-on-science
Weebly--A free and VERY easy to use website and blog builder (the new school and library websites being developed are using this program!)
http://www.weebly.com/
March 8
Chris Van Allsburg Official Website--A story writing contest, video clips, many interactive elements, and a biography make a fun and engaging website!
http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/home.html
Get Ready to Read!--Free early learning resources for parents and teachers.
http://www.getreadytoread.org/
March 1
Dr. Seuss Official Website--Activities, lessons, games, and information about his many books!
http://www.seussville.com/
Dr. Seuss Biography--Learn more about the author and his life.
http://www.biography.com/people/dr-seuss-9479638
February 15
The Bentley Snow Crystal Collection--An amazing online library of snow crystals with information on how they were classified and photographed.
http://bentley.sciencebuff.org/collection.asp
Shel Silverstein Official Website--Lessons for teachers, poems with animations (some narrated!), printables and more.
http://www.shelsilverstein.com/html/home.html
February 8
ReadWorks Presidents' Day--Reading passages and question sets about Presidents' Day for grades K-6.
http://www.readworks.org/presidents-day-2013
Poetry Theater--Poetry plays with characters, props, and presentation suggestions for students to perform!
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetrytheater.aspx
February 1
The Brown Bookshelf--In honor of Black History Month this website showcases the best of African American writers and illustrators for all grade levels.
http://thebrownbookshelf.com/
Reading Rockets: Black History Month--Videos, booklists, activities, websites and more to help you celebrate this month!
http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/blackhistory/
January 25
The Graphic Classroom--Booklists, teaching resources, and updates about using comics in the classroom
http://www.graphicclassroom.org/
Reading with Pictures--Presents research, resources, and recommended reading to help you start integrating comics into your curriculum.
http://readingwithpictures.org/
January 18
Young American Poetry Digest--Information about Davis Library's upcoming poetry contest!
www.youngpoets.org
eThemes Poetry--Links to teaching tools, activities, and videos for elementary poetry writing.
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1398
January 11
Remembering Pearl Harbor Interactive Map--Some 3rd grade students wanted to know more about Pearl Harbor; this map narrates the timeline of the attack.
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/multimedia/interactive/pearl-harbor/?ar_a=1
Weather Wiz Kids--List of weather terms, activities, and conversion charts.
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
StudyJams! Water Cycle--This short, basic video gives a good introduction to the water cycle.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/studyjams/water_cycle/
January 4
BYOD--'Bring Your Own Device': a collection of articles and other resources to explore this current educational topic!
http://insidetheclassroomoutsidethebox.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/elementary-schools-and-bring-your-own-device/
Bam! Body and Mind--Help students learn about fitness, food, nutrition, safety, etc.
http://www.bam.gov/
December 21
Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams--Videos of many different exhibits at the aquarium; I tested this site on some 2nd grade boys and they approved!
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_opensea/open_sea_cam.aspx
Exploratorium--Hands-on activities, online exhibits, videos, etc. for science and art-related information.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/
December 14
Web-Holidays--Lists major and minor holidays with links to articles, recipes, and activities.
http://web-holidays.com/
Christmas Around the World--A list of countries with information about how Christmas is celebrated in other cultures.
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/
December 5
CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards--Find out information about award winners, watch videos, or have your students read and review the books on the shortlist!
http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/
November 30
Edutopia--Articles and videos discussing core strategies such as comprehensive assessment and technology integration. Great professional development resource.
http://www.edutopia.org/
I was wondering...--Website dedicated to exploring careers and innovations of female scientists. Interactive games, questions, and information about a wide variety of scientific topics.
http://www.iwaswondering.org/index.php
November 20
Awesome Library--37,000 carefully reviewed resources grouped by subject for teachers, students, and parents.
http://www.awesomelibrary.org/
Captain Underpants Comic Maker--Fans of the series can easily make their own comics featuring the characters from the book; the finished comic can be printed!
http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/comic.htm
November 16
Fact Fragment Frenzy--Teaches students how to pull out the most important information from paragraphs and sentences. I'm starting research units soon, and I will be using this site!
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/fact-fragment-frenzy-30013.html?tab=1#tabs
Arcademic Skill Builders--Math and language arts games; the site gives you the ability to set up multiple users on the same game, and provides a score and missed questions for each player. The games are similar to mini-quizzes, but are actually fun!
http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/
November 9
Kerpoof Studio--Spell pictures, make movies, cards, drawings, and books! Teacher resources include kerpoof activities cross-referenced with state and national standards.
http://www.kerpoof.com/
Merriam-Webster: Word Central--Build your own dictionary, play games with words, great teacher resources, and three search options: dictionary, thesaurus, and rhyming.
http://www.wordcentral.com/
November 2
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids--Information on the United States government and the election process; includes games and activities.
K-2: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/index.html
3-5: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/index.html
Electoral College Article--Online encyclopedia article from Grolier's The New Book of Knowledge for grades 3-5.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/electoral-college
How to Become President of the U.S. Poster--Lists the steps with links for more information; the poster can be printed for your classroom!
http://kids.usa.gov/president/index.shtml
October 26
Reading rockets--"Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle." Resources for parents, teachers, and principals; includes themed booklists, 100+ author video interviews, professional development webcasts, reading guides, toolkits, and more. This website has so much to offer!
http://www.readingrockets.org/
Little Critter's official website--Free coloring and activity pages, sing-a-longs, interactive games and 'read & plays,' and free story-time movies!
http://www.littlecritter.com/index.html
October 17
Book-A-Day Almanac--Daily book recommendations and events! Each book recommendation includes an in-depth summary. Search the archive for past recommendations; books are grouped by age, subject, type of book, author, and date featured!
http://childrensbookalmanac.com/
Storynory--Free audio stories published every week! Stories include website originals, classics, fairy tales, educational, and junior; the text of each story is included so students can follow along!
http://storynory.com/
October 12
Create a Graph--Choose from 5 graph types, follow the instructions for each step, and print, download, and/or email your completed graph!
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
Lil' Fingers--A website designed for young children. Includes storybooks (some animated!), games (try the Pick & Match game for colors and shapes), activities, and videos (one for each letter of the alphabet!).
http://www.lil-fingers.com/storybooks/index.php
October 5
FunBrain--Online books, comics, mad libs, and educational games. Check out the Teacher's Page for a curriculum guide that lists the site's resources by subject area and grade level.
http://www.funbrain.com/
Wacky Web Tales--A list of story options that are similar to mad libs; fill out the story form by choosing parts of speech, and create a funny story! I think I might try 'A Detective for Halloween' later this month...
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
September 28
Storyline Online--A collection of videos showing members of the Screen Actors Guild reading picture books aloud. The site includes activity ideas for lessons. Look for the book list of similar titles and topics that is included with each video!
http://storylineonline.net/
Fact Monster--An easy-to-use reference site for kids that includes an almanac, encyclopedia, atlas, homework center, dictionary, etc. Highly Recommended!
http://www.factmonster.com/
September 21
FlockDraw--A free tool for online drawing and painting! One great feature is the ability to collaboratively draw in real-time with a group of up to 10 people.
http://flockdraw.com/
Tagxedo--Creates free word clouds from text that you provide, and will even turn the clouds into specific shapes! I'll be using this tool with the 3rd-5th graders, so check back to the library website in a couple of weeks to see how they turn out!
http://www.tagxedo.com/
September 13
ProTeacher Directory--Links to teaching ideas and resources easily organized by subject.
http://www.proteacher.com/
TRAILS: Tools for Real-time Assessment--A free web-based assessment tool that targets third and sixth grade information literacy skills.
http://www.trails-9.org/index.php?page=home
September 6
Storybird--Create and share your own art-inspired stories. Free teacher accounts are available that allow you to manage students and create your own classroom libraries.
http://storybird.com/
TeacherTube--See what other teachers and classes are doing in every subject area, or upload your own videos!
http://www1.teachertube.com/